The Detroit Lions‘ defense suffered a massive blow a handful of weeks back when star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a significant injury during the Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
In the second half of that game, Hutchinson suffered a broken tibia and fibula that will sideline him four to six months. There is hope that he can make it back by the Super Bowl if the Lions can make it that far. More on that shortly.
First things first, Hutchinson has a long recovery ahead of him, and any setback will ruin any hope he’s got of playing in the Big Game. Recently, Hutchinson provided an update on where he’s at in his recovery.
Aidan Hutchinson has arrived at Ford Field pic.twitter.com/e0pJbf7d0k
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) November 17, 2024
Aidan Hutchinson injury update
On Instagram, Hutchinson posted a video of himself taking steps in a pool. Bear in mind, this guy BROKE HIS LEG just a shade over a month ago and he’s already doing this. Truly incredible.
This video will only add fuel to the hope that he can make it back by the Super Bowl. The notion originally surfaced in reports after it was revealed that Hutchinson had a clean break, which speeds up his timeline.
“Sources say there are several factors that point to Hutchinson potentially being back at the early benchmark of four months — which would be right at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025 — provided Detroit makes it, of course,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported last month.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell also hasn’t ruled out Hutchinson’s return at some point this season.
“I would say if anybody can make it back, it would be him,” Campbell said of his star edge rusher.
With Hutchinson and fellow edge rusher Marcus Davenport out, general manager Brad Holmes acquired 32-year-old edge rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns just ahead of the NFL trade deadline to help fill the void.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Smith is expected to make his Lions debut this week, and he’s under contract in 2025, so the Lions can pair him with Hutchinson next season.
However, with the way Hutchinson’s rehab is going, and with the Lions playing as well as they are, maybe we won’t have to wait that long.
MORE DETROIT LIONS NEWS
Jahmyr Gibbs reveals 2 teams he expected to draft him
Lions vs. Jaguars final injury report